Strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH612’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH612’. This new everbearer strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH612’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the high chill areas. It is characterized by a rustic plant which is quite tolerant to leaf and root diseases and slightly susceptible to mildew. The plant has medium vigor, upright habit and good productivity also in the second year of growing. The fruit has a bright red color, conical shape, good size constant throughout the picking season and excellent skin resistance. The picking season is wide and constant. ‘CIVRH612’ has excellent organoleptic characteristics with aromatic notes of wild strawberry. The flavor is juicy and sweet with high brix levels. Stalk removal is very easy and the fruit is suitable for fruit salads. The fruit has a very good shelf life.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria x ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘CIVRH612’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘CIVRH612’.

The new strawberry ‘CIVRH612’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor(s), Leis Michelangelo and Martinelli Alessio, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new everbearer strawberry varieties with high chill requirement, good productivity also in the second year (two-years production) and excellent shelf life. Select early varieties with a wide harvest period with excellent organoleptic characteristics and skin resistance.

This new strawberry ‘CIVRH612’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2011, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The female or seed parent is the not released selection of Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti named 3H1F-11. The male or pollen parent is the not released selection of Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti named S7V9-9.

The new strawberry ‘CIVRH612’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2013 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The new variety was tested over the next several years at Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy and in different European areas with high chill conditions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CIVRH612’ is an everbearer variety with high chill requirement.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘CIVRH612’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. everbearer variety with high chill requirement;     -   2. good productivity also in the second year of growing;     -   3. good fruit size constant throughout the picking season;     -   4. very sweet fruit with excellent aromatic notes of wild         strawberry;     -   5. excellent shelf life; and     -   6. early and wide harvest during the season.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH612’ is the patented variety of Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti named Murano. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH612’ differ from plants of strawberry variety ‘Murano’ in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ ‘MURANO’ Fruit: attitude of sepal Downwards Outwards Fruit: difference in shape of Moderate Slight to moderate terminal and other fruit Fruit: shape Ovoid Conical

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH612’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘CIVRH612’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH612’ were taken in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, and are approximately 3 to 5 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical plants of ‘CIVRH612’;

FIG. 2 shows typical flowers of ‘CIVRH612’;

FIG. 3 shows typical leaves of ‘CIVRH612’;

FIG. 4 shows typical fruits of ‘CIVRH612’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘CIVRH612’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH612’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the 2018 growing season in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘CIVRH612’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, during 2018 and planted approximately 4 months later in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH612’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 2 years of data collected from the 2017 through 2018 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 10:00 A.M. in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The approximate age of the observed plants is 3 to 5 months.

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘CIVRH612’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ Color of mature fruit Red (45A red group) Color of internal flesh Orange-red (33B orange-red group) Length (cm) Average 4.5 cm Width (cm) Average 4.9 cm Ratio length/width 1.16 Calyx diameter (cm) Average 3.5 cm Average weight (gm) Average 20 gm Achene color Yellow (150B yellow-green group) Number of achenes About 6.8 achenes/cm², measured per cm² in the middle of the fruit Marketable yield (gm/pit) Average 600-800 gm/plt Size Large Predominant shape Conical Difference in shapes Moderate between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Unevenness of surface Even or very slightly uneven Evenness of color Even or very slightly uneven Glossiness Strong Insertion of achenes Below the surface Insertion of calyx Level with the surface Attitude of the calyx Outward Same size Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Weak to medium Firmness of skin Firm Firmness of flesh Firm Distribution of red color Marginal of the flesh Hollow center expression Absent or small Flavor Very sweet, aromatic and juicy Soluble solids (% brix) 8.8° Brix Time of first flowering Early Time of first harvesting Early (first picking the 23rd of May 2019 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy) Harvest period From the end of May to October Type of bearing Day neutral

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ Height (cm) Average 28 cm Spread (cm) Average 43 cm Size Medium to large Habit Upright Density Medium Vigor Medium

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ Average number per plant About 25 stolons/mother plant in our nursery in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara) Italy Anthocyanin coloration Absent Anthocyanin intensity None Diameter at bract (mm) Average 3.6 mm Pubescence Medium

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ Foliage: Color of upper surface Green (141A green group) Color of underside Green (146B yellow-green group) Shape in cross section Concave Interveinal blistering Weak to medium Glossiness Medium Number of leaflets Three (3) Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) Average 11.5 cm Width (cm) Average 11 cm Length/width ratio 1.04 Serrations/leaf Free Size Small to medium Shape of base Obtuse Shape of teeth Serrate to crenate Petiole: Length (cm) Average 15.9 cm Diameter (mm) Average 4.71 mm Petiolule length (mm) Average 8.8 mm Pubescence Weak Attitude of hairs Upwards Stipule: Length (mm) Average 28.7 mm Width (mm) Average 9.5 mm Anthocyanin coloration Absent or very weak Color Red-purple (63A red-purple group)

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ Length (cm) Average 25 cm Position relative to foliage Slight above to the foliage Pubescence Dense Anthocyanin intensity None Attitude at first pick Outward

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH612’ Petal color Mature (upper) White (155 D white group) Mature (lower) White (155 D white group) Petal shape Overall Rounded Apex Round Base Round Petal length (mm) Average 11.2 mm Petal width (mm) Average 12.2 mm Petal length/width ratio 0.92 Number of petals/flower About 5 to 6 Sepals color Mature (upper) Green (143 A green group) Mature (lower) Green (144 B yellow-green group) Sepal shape Overall Apex Pointed Base Broad Sepal length (mm) Average 8.8 mm Sepal width (mm) Average 4.8 mm Sepal length/width ratio 1.8 Number of sepals/flower About 10 to 12 Corolla diameter (mm) Average 33.5 mm Calyx diameter (mm) Average 34.2 mm Size of calyx relative to Same size to slight bigger corolla Relative position of petals Overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘CIVRH612’ is a rustic plant quite tolerant to leaf and root diseases, and slightly susceptible to mildew. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH612’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 